California Biographies
Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)
History By Paul E. Vandor
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
JAMES HANSEN. � James Hansen represents the enterprise, thrift, and
progressive spirit, so typical of the West. He is a native of Odense, Island
of Fyen, Denmark, where he was born February 5, 1869. Denmark has given
to the United States many of her best citizens and California has received
her share of these thrifty men, who have greatly aided in the development
of the viticultural and horticultural interests of Fresno County. He is a son
of Hans and Anna Hansen, the father having been a Danish farmer who
passed away in that country, after which the mother came to America and
settled at Fremont, Nebr., where she resided until her death. Ten children
of Mr. and Mrs. Hansen grew up, James, the subject of this review being the
fifth child. His early education was received in the public schools of his
native country.
In 1888, James Hansen came to the United States and, on May 4, arrived
in Fremont, Nebr., where he secured work on the horse ranch of Bluthe &
Balding, and for two years was engaged in the hazardous undertaking of
breaking bronchos. Afterwards for two years he worked on the John P. Eaton
ranch and then started farming for himself by renting land and engaging in
raising corn and hogs. Later he purchased a farm and after three years sold
it and bought 160 acres in Cedar County, Nebr. While living there the seasons
were very dry and consequently the crops were unprofitable. Mr. Hansen
then returned to Fremont where he engaged in farming. In 1907 he sold his
interests in Nebraska and migrated to California, locating in Fresno County,
where he purchased a forty-acre vineyard, in the Malaga section, which he
operated one year. As the returns from his vineyard were not profitable, he
pulled up the vines and planted alfalfa, and then engaged in the dairy bus-
iness. Later, Mr. Hansen traded his vineyard for ten acres on Fig Avenue,
adjoining the city of Fresno. Afterwards, for two years, he engaged in the
real estate business in Fresno, where he conducted the Danish Land Office.
In August, 1913, he located in the vicinity of Kerman, where he purchased
five acres in the Dakota Colony, and two years later bought thirty acres
nearby, which was but a wild willow-patch. With the help of a stump-puller,
he grubbed out twenty acres of this seemingly good-for-nothing land and
now has thirty-five acres of tillable land, five acres being planted to emperor,
eight to sultana, and ten to Thompson seedless grapes; and five acres to
alfalfa. The remaining acreage he expects to plant to Thompson seedless and
sultana vines.
While living in Fremont, Nebr., James Hansen was united in marriage
with Miss Hansine Ohlrick, a native of Denmark. This union has been blessed
with three children: Annie, who lives in Oakland; Maria, who is now Mrs.
W. F. Parker of Berkeley; and Charles, who served as a member of the
Twenty-first Infantry, U. S. A., stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah, until he was
discharged and who is now helping his father.
Mr. Hansen is an exceptionally good farmer and thoroughly understands
viticulture. He deserves great credit for making an undesirable tract of land
to "blossom and bloom as a rose."